Pastor
Rev. Dr. Gloria Smith will be on sabbatical through the end of August
Rev. Gloria began serving the Encanto Community as our Interim Pastor in 2011 and became our Settled Pastor in January 2012. Rev. Gloria earned a B.A. Degree in Religion/Philosophy from the University of Indianapolis and a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary. Gloria’s journey has allowed her many different work experiences that includes serving churches, entrepreneurism, and university professor. In addition to her ministry degrees, she holds an M.B.A. from the University of Indianapolis and recently earned her Ph.D. in Business Organization and Management from Capella Unity.
Gloria and her wife Debbye moved to Arizona from Indianapolis, Indiana in 2003 with their Arabian horses family cats.
Sabbatical Interim Pastor ellie hutchison
ellie grew up by the Susquehanna River, close to the Mason Dixon Line. She split her adult life between Philadelphia and Phoenix, where as a single mother, she raised her son. She discovered ECC through contacts with our Conference Minister and Pastor Gloria. The laughter and the openness of our Church Council made her feel right at home, along with the familiar smells and landscape of the church.
Professionally, ellie describes herself as a Curious Explorer, currently teaching GED Language and Social Studies classes at Rio Salado College. She also is a PT Social Justice Organizer with the AZ Faith Network and provides guidance to The Fountains UMC on the Mission work beyond Fountain Hills. For fun, she teaches creative writing and storytelling with her own little LLC. ellie has discovered by writing out her spiritual journey for the Member-in-Discernment process with the Southwest Conference of the UCC, that she has always been destined to be a Pastor.
Youth Group Leaders
Kathy Van Etten & Steve Holloway
Our Youth Group leaders and Sunday School teachers are Kathy Van Etten and Steve Holloway, both natives of the Phoenix area. Kathy is a local family law attorney who was born and raised in Encanto Community Church many years ago, and Steve is a neuro-scientist who teaches at ASU, and who has been a “friend” of Encanto for the past three decades.
Adult Bible Study Leader
Stacie Nasser
Stacie Nasser came to Encanto Community Church through her participation in Bible Study and a few months later, she and her husband Tom and their two boys, Jacob and Mitchell joined the church. Stacie works as a mail carrier for the US Post Office. She is currently the facilitator for the church’s Adult Bible Study group which meets Sunday mornings at 8:45a.m.
Choir Director
Jill Mahoney
Jill began her musical education when she was 10 and began learning to play the accordion. She quickly knew that she wanted to make music her career. In high school, she took up playing horn. Jill received her B.A. from Arizona State University and taught band, jazz band, and orchestra in the Peoria Unified School District until retiring in 2013.
Jill began serving as the Choir Director at Encanto Community Church in 2006. She lives with her wife Cindy.
Organist
Genevieve Benham
